1. History of Wakeboarding
In 1985, the Skurfer was born. The Skurfer was the first wakeboard attempt, which incorporated styles from surfboards and water skis. It basically resembled a little surfboard that could be towed behind a boat, and the rider could then perform tricks and ride the waves. As foot straps were incorporated and new designs began to pop up, wakeboarding became the common name for this emerging sport. Wakeboarding became more and more popular and was finally recognized in the 1990s as promoters staged professional competitions and ESPN began to take notice.
2. What You Need to Get Started
The most obvious thing you need when gathering your wakeboarding supplies is a wakeboard. The type of board you choose should depend on your level of skill. If you are a beginner, a board with squared edges is probably best, but if you have more experience, go with a board that has rounded edges. Rounded edges make it easier to land tricks and pick up speed. Of course, a wakeboard doesn't do you much good without a boat and a wakeboard tow rope. Once you have your equipment ready, and have put on your life jacket, you are ready to ride the waves.
3. Take It Slow
It may look easy to get up on a wakeboard, but once the boat starts moving, you must put your balance and skills to the test. Make sure your rope is no longer than 50 feet long and that your board is perpendicular to the back of the boat. As the boat begins to move, keep the front of your board above the water and let the board turn toward the boat. Keep your weight low and wait until your board is out of the water before you attempt to slowly stand up.
4. World Wakeboard Association as a Resource
Jimmy Redmon founded the World Wakeboard Association (WWA) in 1989. This organization created wakeboarding rules to encourage professionalism in the sport and keep wakeboarding true to its roots. Since the creation of the WWA, wakeboarding became increasingly popular and moved from a recreational sport to a professional, competitive sport. As the sport grew, the WWA remained the official authority on all wakeboarding issues.
5. Wakeboard Designs
Since the beginning of wakeboarding, the board has undergone quite a few changes. The most common wakeboard design is a twin tipped wakeboard. These boards are rounded on both sides, which allow the rider to move in either direction. There are also single tipped boards available, which are rounded only on one end. The length of wakeboards vary anywhere from 120 to 150 centimeters. Beginners usually do better on longer boards, because they provide more stability. All boards have fins, which allow the rider to steer the wakeboard. They are located on the bottom of the board. And remember, all boards require a good pair of bindings. Make sure your bindings fit properly in order to avoid injury and gain better control over the board.
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